Monthly Archives: April 2013

So I finally did some spring cleaning to get rid of any funky products that were expired.

I threw them away before I was able to take pictures (agh..where is my brain these days?) but here’s the list:

theBalm Concealer: This was a decent concealer, a bit cakey at times but this has just started to smell very, very odd.

Revlon ColorStay in 180-I have mixed feelings about this product. To me, it goes on way too thick and looks cakey. It does have amazing coverage but I don’t like masking my face and it feels like it clogs my pores. Overtime, the texture has become even worse. Good riddance!

NYX Pandora– a bold, berry, fuschia color that has a hint of shimmer to it. One of my first lipsticks that I constantly go to when I want a more dramatic look. Sadly, I dropped this once and it completely fell off. For less than $3, I didn’t have the heart to fix it. </3

On another notes here are my March/April Empties!

Dr. Jart+ Black Label BB cream: See my review here. I’m finally done with this product and although I liked it, I’m not going to repurchase it because of the price and I still prefer the Misha BB cream.

Revlon Lipbutter in “Sugar plum”– I have gone through so many of these and I have just finished my last back-up. This is a sad day indeed.

Chanel Vitalumière Aqua in 32– I have been loving this! I’m in shade 32 beige rose. It’s quite hydrating and gives me easy, mess-free, on-the-go, coverage. I only need a light coverage and this fits the bill. I have completely hit pan on this product but I’d be too sad to throw it away because of the gorgeous packaging.

F.A.S.T. Shampoo and Conditioner: This didn’t really help my hair grow faster but it smelled wonderful and the conditioner made my hair very silky and soft.

My sweet boyfriend has been sending me little gifts throughout the month for my birthday and I’m loving it ❤

The other day he got me these amazing boots from Steve Madden, they are called the “Acedd Leather Ankle Booties”. I absolutely love them and I know they’ll last me years since they are real leather and they fit my style perfectly. The black studs give them an understated edge as apposed to my usual gaudiness.

He also gifted me with these two beautiful products from Chanel (oooops :))

Here you are, standing in front of a closetful of dresses, blouses, skirts, and any other imaginable piece of clothing and you think to yourself I have NOTHING to wear! If you live in America, especially if you’re a woman (I don’t mean to be sexist), this situation may seem familiar to you.

Now, obviously the problem isn’t the quantity or even variety of clothing, rather the problem are the kinds of clothing in the closet. Let me try to clarify what I’m saying. Have you noticed that despite all your clothes, you tend to pick out and wear the same pieces on a routine basis? These pieces are the types of clothing you want in your closet, a.k.a. your wardrobe staples. These are probably neutral pieces of clothing that match with each other such as the little black dress, a white dress shirt, a pair of dark wash denims, and perhaps a trench coat. Imagine how much easier and how much more fulfilled you may feel if most of your wardrobe consisted of staples, rather than fluff pieces you don’t use on a regular enough basis.

Living in a society of mass consumption, many of us have been socialized into thinking material objects bring us happiness and they do! Only to a certain point though, and we, as a society, have gone way past that point and too much of anything is a bad thing. Every “season” we are told what to wear and what trends to follow and really this translates to “buy this, buy that, buy those”.

Now, I’m not going to make a checklist of “wardrobe essentials every woman should have” because there are so many of those that can easily be googled, rather I’m going to give some tips on how to compile a great, personalized, closet for you, personally.

First, I would recommend taking a minimalist or parisian approach in building your closet. By minimalism, I mean reducing your wardrobe to what you feel is the perfect amount of clothing for yourself. I don’t mean to only wear clothing that is very simple. Parisian women are famous for having only a handfull of pieces (around 10) for a season that they cycle through, accentuating with accessories for that effortlessly and classic chic look.

Tip #1: Look at what you have. No, really look through every piece of your wardrobe from your scarves, dresses, to your shoes. Ask yourself:

How often do you wear this? Be realistic, if you’ve had it for over a year and have only worn it a handful of times, it may be time to let go of it.

Does it have sentimental value? Keep it, if it does.

How many outfit combinations can you make with this item?

What is the condition of this item? Does it need to be dry-cleaned, tailored, or replaced?

Does it flatter you? Take note of how it flatters you. Pay attention to the cut, where the hemline falls to, if the color complements your skin tone. Also take note of what doesn’t flatter you and why it doesn’t work for you.

Now, separate your items into four piles: keep, tailor, donate, and throw-away (rag pile). Build from what you have left and voila! You have your perfect wardrobe that has room to grow!

Tip #2: You’ll love this one! Shop at your favorite shops! Whether it’s their style, their quality, or a combination of things, shop at places that resonate with you. Try on anything and everything you like. Take your time, don’t be impulsive, be realistic on whether it will fit into your daily wardrobe. Only buy pieces that you fall in love with and fit you and your wardrobe absolutely perfectly!

Tip #3: Accessorize! If you find yourself getting bored with your closet, pick out a statement jewelry piece, a pretty scarf, a pair of awesome sunglasses, a great handbag to give you the same satisfactory feeling of changing up your look without overcrowding your closet.

Tip #4: Buy great shoes! Be meticulous of finding a perfect pair of boots, flats, or pumps for yourself. You must absolutely love every bit of it from the style, the fit, and the comfort. Always take your time and do a couple laps around the store when trying them on to know whether they will give you blisters or if they truly fit and feel right. Make sure they match your wardrobe and can be worn from day to night.

“Can I actually walk in these?”

If you follow these tips, you’re on your way to your dream wardrobe! I hope this was helpful and please leave other tips you find important in creating a perfect wardrobe!

You wouldn’t keep expired milk or moldy cheese in your fridge would you? That’s just plain unhygienic! Well, in case you didn’t know, makeup also expires and using expired makeup can have dire consequences! Overtime, makeup accumulates dirt and bacteria that can lead to eye infections and skin rashes. These are just more reasons why I’m going to buy makeup minimally from now on and only buy products that I can realistically expect to finish before it expires. This means I should also take into account how much makeup I already have and whether or not this product can truly fit into my daily routine.

Here is a list of beauty products and their expiration dates! I know it may hurt, but if your makeup is expired, it may be time to part ways and do a little spring cleaning! (Note: the expiration date is from the time you open the product.)

1. Powders and shadows: Approximately two-three years.

Yikes! You may be tempted to keep powdered products longer because it seems to take forever to hit pan on these products! I know I definitely don’t need all those eye shadow palettes, especially if I’m being honest, there is no way I can finish both my naked palettes even if those were the only eyeshadow palettes I owned! Also, this is worrisome because I have already had the naked palette for almost two years now and the naked 2 palette since it came out at the end of 2011.

2. Cream shadows/Eyeshadow Primers: Approximately 1-1.5 years.

In general, cream or liquid makeup does not last as long as dry makeup. Here’s a tip: If it smells funky, it’s probably time to throw it out!

3. Foundation: 1-2 years

Water-based foundation lasts about a year and an oil-based foundation may last up to two years. Get rid of it, if you see a difference in it’s smell, texture, or color!

4. Lipstick: Anywhere from 1-4 years.

Some say lipsticks should be kept for only a year, while other experts claim that lipsticks can last for up to 4 years. What they do agree upon is that once it starts smelling, it’s time to go! Extra tip: Storing lipstick in the fridge prolongs it’s life and keeps it from breaking!

5. Mascara & Liquid Liner: 3 months

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is keeping and using mascara or liquid liner for more than 3 months. These products expire the fastest so make sure you replace these products routinely to prevent eye infections and contaminations and don’t make a habit of trying more than one mascara at a time because you’ll most likely be throwing away money. Opt for a drugstore alternative for products like these as drugstore mascaras are pretty amazing and paying upwards of $20 for a high-end product will probably not pay off.

6. Pencil eyeliners & Pencil lipliners: 3-5 years

These products have a long life so don’t be afraid to splurge for ones that will work time and time again. To keep it fresh and clean, make sure to sharpen them regularly.

Here are some extra tips for knowing when your makeup is expired:

1. Go with your “nose”: Seriously, if it smells, it’s for it to go! The reason why the smell of makeup changes is usually because of bacteria.

2. Replace your makeup sponges weekly as they can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Also wash your makeup brushes at least once a week for the same reason.

3. If you’re sick, try to use as little makeup as possible to avoid contaminating your products.

Well, I hope this post was informative and will help others when trying to find out whether your makeup is expired or not. I’m now going to take a second look (and sniff!) at my makeup collection and tell you what I find!